Automatic friction type clutch



Nov. 24, 1953 `R H, SHADOX 2,660,280

AUTOMATIC FRICTION TYPE CLUTCH Filed Oct. 20, 1950 2 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR.

,fase/w H. eff/1000) NOV. 24, 1953 R H, SHADDQX 2,660,280

AUTOMATIC FRICTION TYPE CLUTCH Filed Oct. 20, 1950 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR.

' ROBERT MSIMDDX Wad/mam A7TOHNET Patented Nov. 24, 1953 UNITED STATES ATgNT oFFlcE AUTOMATIC FRICTION TYPE CLUTCH Robert H. Shaddox, Corpus Christi, Tex.

Application October 20, 1950, Serial No. 191,148

4 Claims. t 1 The present invention relates to an automatic friction type clutch and it consists in the combinations, constructions and arrangements of parts herein described and claimed.

Generally there is provided an automatic friction type clutch wherein a drive shaft is provided with a central clutch plate having clutching surfaces on either side thereof and which is attached to the drive shaft by keying or otherwise. This central clutch is provided with a collar upon which` is affixed a ratchet ring. A driven shaft has splined thereon a hub which carries a reciprocal clutch plate having a friction surface facing one side of the central clutch plate and connected by a series of pivoted toggle bolts or spreader jacks to a iioating clutch plate likewise provided with a friction surface facing the other face of the central clutch plate. The last mentioned oating clutch plate carries upon its outer side a pawl which may be engaged or disengaged with the ratchet wheelV by means of a lever also mounted upon such floating friction plate. A series of stop members is carried by each of the floating clutch plate and reciprocal clutch plate and each of the stop members of one series is connected with a stop member of the other series by means of a tension spring. Movement of the drive shaft in one direction, While the pawl is engaged with the ratchet ring, will cause a corresponding movement of the driven shaft by forcing the floating clutch plate and reciprocal clutch plate into engagement with the central clutch plate through the action of the toggle bolts. Release of the pawl from the ratchet ring will a1- low the springs above referred to to bring the stop members together and, through the action of the toggle bolts, force the floating clutch plate and reciprocal clutch plate away from the central clutch plater thereby allowing free movement of the driven shaft with respectto the drive shaft in either direction. The device is particularly adaptable to the synchronization of compound driving units.

It is accordingly an object of the invention to provide a device of the character set forth which is simple in its construction, comparatively inexpensive to manufacture and yet eifective and eliicient in use. 4

Another object of the invention is the provision of a novel arrangement of a fixed dual-faced clutch plate with a pair of outer clutch plates. Another object of the invention is the provision, in a device of the character set forth, of novel means for controlling the action of clutch plates forming a part of the invention.

f A further object of the invention is the provision, in `a device of the character set forth, of novel stop members and spreader jacks both forming parts of the invention.

Other and further objects of the invention will become apparent from a reading of the following specification taken in conjunction With the drawings, in which: l

Figure 1 is a side elevational view of an vembodiment of the invention,

Figure 2 is a vertical sectional view of Figure 1, Figure 3 is a sectional view taken along line 3 3 of Figure 2, l

Figure 4 is a sectional view taken along line 4-4 of Figure 1,

Figure 5 is a sectional view taken along line 5 5 of Figure 2,

Figure 6 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view, partly broken away, illustrating the details of construction of a toggle bolt or spreader jack forming a part of the invention,

Figure 7 is a perspective View of a stop member forming a part of the invention, and

Figure 8 is an end elevational view of a spline utilized in the invention.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, there is shown therein a drive shaft iii to which is splined, as indicated at Ii, a hub l2 of a central clutch plate i3. There is also provided a driven shaft il which is in axial alignment with the drive shaft E0.

There is aiiixed to the driven shaft irl as by a key I a spline collar It upon which is splined for longitudinal movement a hub l? having integrally formed therewith ya reciprocal clutch plate i3 whose, face adjoining the central clutch plate I3 is provided with a brous lining I9 which is attached thereto by means of screws 20 whose heads are countersunk in the lining material. Adjacent the other face of the central clutch plate i3' is a floating clutch plate 2l whose face adjoining the central clutch plate I3 is like# wise provided with a fibrous lining material 22 which is held thereon by means of screws 23.

The clutch plates i8 and 2l are interconnected' by a series of spreader jacks generally indicated at 2li in Figure 6 of the drawings Each of the spreader jacks comprises a turnbuckle 25 in either end of which is threaded a bolt 26 having a head 2l at its free end. Each of the |bolts 25 extends through a relatively narrow opening 28, in its associated clutch plate |and the head thereof lies within a relatively larger opening 29 the outer side of which is sealed by a plate 30 whichl is held thereon by means of screws 3l or the likel 4 In the present case five of such spreader jacks the counterclockwise movement ofthe shaft Ill are shown. as indicated at Figure 4, will no longer be trans- To a pin 32 extending outwardly from the outei` mitted to the shaft I4 since in such condition side of the clutch plate 2l there is pivotally conthere will be no physical connection whatevenected a pawl 33 which is provided with an in- 5 between the drive shaft I0 and the driven shaft tegrally formed arm 34 having a dog 35 formed I4. thereon which dog is connected by means of a Again, when the pawl 33 is engaged with the tensioning spring 36 with an ear 31 likewise ratchet ring as aforesaid, it will be apparent that formed on theoliterkfacel of theclntch plate ZulTl ifycounterclolgwise movementisnapplied, to the Aixeltomtl'ir lbNI 255551 a pljiraltylof radially; 10 straft; IIIL tof-:thusgc'ause thelikecqunterlclbckwise extending set screws 38 is a ratchet ring 39, the movement of the shaft I4; as `viewed in Figureteeth of which are adapted to be engaged by the# 4,that any overriding movement that is to sayl pawl 33. A lever 40 is pivoteluponA apiri 4f any speed of the shaft I4 greater than the speed which extends from the outer faebfth'iflatoffthslaftl'fiwlill merely cause the pawl 33 to ing clutch plate 2l and is provide l. wit y15 ,overridethetegth of the ratchet ring 39 and that tension 42 which is adapted to engage'the "vvhn the" s'peed'of the driven shaft I4 again be A plurality of support arms4'3;"i thiscaselvl comes;lessenedeithecmotion of the shaft I0 will in number are each provided with a foot which ,ik againhbe imparted to the shaft I4.

extends perpendicularly thereto and whic Ffot While' but one form of.f the invention has been isvaflixed tothe ,quternfacecf the clutch lplateIB 20 shown and described herein, it will be readily apparntto those' skilled in` theY art thatn many n i M mrr 'modieatiensfiray be made without 'dei the perip'liry'of-thme partiig' fxth'e spirit of the invention or theA contattherewith n Y W x scope ofthe appended claims. '"on ghmeim animee t i e Wnatis cin'rieaisy W., 1- Arien-Cerfa@@weer described compristhfpenphrybfthe'oanng clutcnpia wg and; ing 'agritur/"egshaft,-ajdriveaShaftinv exim alignextgndinginandiretignwto embracej the clutglif mntanjdadjaceiit I :-sfailv drivelshaft, a'central piat I8 ira seriesf d stop armen-minis allai-:faced f1i1tjclif"p1ate 'affixed to jsaidA drive case likewiseiivein nu f shaft al collar' splined'ponth driven shaftga port #alismtersoml ring carried by said clutch plate, and a pawl carried by said clutch plate surrounding said drive shaft.

3. A device of the character described cemp:is ing a drive shaft, a driven shaft in aXial alignment and adjacent to said drive shaft, a central dual-faced clutch plate aixed to said drive shaft, a collar splined upon the driven shaft, a reciprocal clutch plate aiiixed to said collar, a floating clutch plate surrounding the drive shaft upon the opposite side oi said central clutch plate to said plate affixed to said collar, a plurality of circumferentially spaced support arms affixed to the periphery of the plate carried by the collar and extending beyond the iioating clutch plate and in contact therewith, a plurality of stop arms aixed in spaced circumferential arrangement to the periphery of the plate surrounding the drive shaft and extending 4longitudinally to embrace the plate carried by the collar, a tension spring interconnecting each stop arm with its adjacent support arm, a plurality of circumferentially spaced spreader jacks interconnecting the oating clutch plate and the reciprocal clutch plate, means for moving said floating clutch plate and reciprocal clutch plate into and out of engagement with said central clutch plate, and means for inactivating said rst-mentioned means.

4l. A device of the character described comprising a drive shaft, a driven shaft in axial align ment and adjacent to said drive shaft, a central dual-faced clutch plate ailixed to said drive shaft, a collar splined upon the driven shaft, a reciprocal clutch plate aixed to said collar,

a floating clutch plate surrounding the drive shaft upon the opposite side of said central clutch plate to said plate affixed to said collar, a plurality of circumferentially spaced support arms aiiixed to the periphery of the plate carried :by the collar and extending beyond the floating clutch plate and in Contact therewith, a plurality of stop arms affixed in spaced circumferential arrangement to the periphery of the plate surrounding the drive shaft and extending longitudinally to embrace the plate carried by the collar, a tension spring interconnecting each stop arm with its adjacent support arm, a plurality of circumferentially spaced spreader jacks interconnecting the floating clutch plate and the reciprocal clutch plate, means for moving said iioating clutch plate and said reciprocal clutch plate into and out of engagement with said central clutch plate, said means including a ratchet ring carried by said clutch plate, and a pawl carried by said clutch plate surrounding said drive shaft, and means for inactivating said first-mentioned means, said last-mentioned means including an arm formed integrally with said pawl, a spring for normally urging said pawl into contact with said ring, and a lever for moving said paWl out of engagement with said ring and for maintaining said pawl in such disengaged position.

ROBERT I-I. SHADDOX.

References cited in the fue of this patent FOREIGN PATENTS Number 

